Touch sensor signal integration

ABSTRACT

In certain embodiments, a method includes performing a first positive integration by sensing a first rising edge of a charging signal of a touch sensor during a first synchronization period, performing a first negative integration by sensing a first falling edge of the charging signal during a second synchronization period, and performing a first phase shift by skipping integration during a third synchronization period. The method further includes performing a second positive integration by sensing a second rising edge of the charging signal during a fourth synchronization period, performing a second negative integration by sensing a second falling edge of the charging signal during a fifth synchronization period, and performing a second phase shift by skipping integration during a sixth synchronization period. The first integrations are associated with a first sample measurement and the second integrations are associated with a second sample measurement.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure generally relates to touch sensors.

BACKGROUND

According to an example scenario, a touch sensor detects the presenceand position of an object (e.g., a user's finger or a stylus) within atouch-sensitive area of touch sensor of a device. In atouch-sensitive-display application, a touch sensor allows a user tointeract directly with what is displayed on a display screen, ratherthan indirectly with a mouse or touch pad. A touch sensor may beattached to or provided as part of a desktop computer, laptop computer,tablet computer, personal digital assistant (“PDA”), smartphone,satellite navigation device, portable media player, portable gameconsole, kiosk computer, point-of-sale device, or other device. Acontrol panel on a household or other appliance may include a touchsensor.

There are a number of different types of touch sensors, such as forexample resistive touch sensors, surface acoustic wave touch sensors,and capacitive touch sensors. In one example, when an object physicallytouches a touch screen within a touch sensitive area of a touch sensorof the touch screen (e.g., by physically touching a cover layeroverlaying a touch sensor array of the touch sensor) or comes within adetection distance of the touch sensor (e.g., by hovering above thecover layer overlaying the touch sensor array of the touch sensor), achange in capacitance may occur within the touch screen at a position ofthe touch sensor of the touch screen that corresponds to the position ofthe object within the touch sensitive area of the touch sensor. A touchsensor controller processes the change in capacitance to determine theposition of the change of capacitance within the touch sensor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A illustrates an example system that includes a touch sensor and acontroller in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure

FIG. 1B illustrates an example mechanical stack for a touch sensor inaccordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example dot inverse pixel pattern in accordancewith embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example double dot inverse pixel pattern inaccordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example integration sequence in accordance withembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example integration sequence mapped onto a dotinverse pattern in accordance with embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example integration sequence mapped onto a doubledot inverse pattern in accordance with embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example method of performing an integrationsequence in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

In one embodiment, a device includes a touch sensor. The touch sensorincludes a plurality of electrodes. The device further includes acontroller coupled to the touch sensor. The controller includes logicconfigured, when executed, to cause the controller to perform, amongother possible operations, the following: a first positive integrationby sensing a first rising edge of a charging signal associated with anelectrode of the plurality of electrodes during a first synchronizationperiod, a first negative integration by sensing a first falling edge ofthe charging signal associated with the electrode of the plurality ofelectrodes during a second synchronization period, and a first phaseshift by skipping integration at the electrode of the plurality ofelectrodes during a third synchronization period. The first positiveintegration and the first negative integration are associated with afirst sample measurement. The logic is further configured, whenexecuted, to cause the controller to perform the following: a secondpositive integration by sensing a second rising edge of the chargingsignal associated with the electrode of the plurality of electrodesduring a fourth synchronization period, a second negative integration bysensing a second falling edge of the charging signal associated with theelectrode of the plurality of electrodes during a fifth synchronizationperiod, and a second phase shift by skipping integration at theelectrode of the plurality of electrodes during a sixth synchronizationperiod. The second positive integration and the second negativeintegration are associated with a second sample measurement.

FIG. 1A illustrates an example system 100 that includes a touch sensorand a controller in accordance with embodiments of the presentdisclosure. Touch sensor system 100 comprises a touch sensor 101 and atouch sensor controller 102 that are operable to detect the presence andposition of a touch or the proximity of an object within atouch-sensitive area of touch sensor 101. Touch sensor 101 includes oneor more touch-sensitive areas. In one embodiment, touch sensor 101includes an array of electrodes disposed on one or more substrates,which may be made of a dielectric material. Reference to a touch sensormay encompass both the electrodes of touch sensor 101 and thesubstrate(s) on which they are disposed. Alternatively, reference to atouch sensor may encompass the electrodes of touch sensor 101, but notthe substrate(s) on which they are disposed.

The electrodes of touch sensor 101 include a conductive material forminga shape, such as a disc, square, rectangle, thin line, diamond, othershape, or a combination of these shapes. One or more cuts in one or morelayers of conductive material may (at least in part) create the shape ofan electrode, and the area of the shape may (at least in part) bebounded by those cuts. In certain embodiments, the conductive materialof an electrode occupies approximately 100% of the area of its shape.For example, an electrode may be made of indium tin oxide (ITO) and theITO of the electrode may occupy approximately 100% of the area of itsshape (sometimes referred to as 100% fill). In certain embodiments, theconductive material of an electrode occupies less than 100% of the areaof its shape. For example, an electrode may be made of fine lines ofmetal or other conductive material (FLM), such as for example copper,silver, carbon, or a copper-, silver-, or carbon-based material, and thefine lines of conductive material may occupy only a few percent (e.g.,approximately 5%) of the area of its shape in a hatched, mesh, or otherpattern. Although this disclosure describes or illustrates particularelectrodes made of particular conductive material forming particularshapes with particular fill percentages having particular patterns, thisdisclosure contemplates electrodes made of any appropriate conductivematerial forming any appropriate shapes with any appropriate fillpercentages having any suitable patterns.

The shapes of the electrodes (or other elements) of a touch sensor 101constitute, in whole or in part, one or more macro-features of touchsensor 101. One or more characteristics of the implementation of thoseshapes (such as, for example, the conductive materials, fills, orpatterns within the shapes) constitute in whole or in part one or moremicro-features of touch sensor 101. One or more macro-features of touchsensor 101 may determine one or more characteristics of itsfunctionality, and one or more micro-features of touch sensor 101 maydetermine one or more optical features of touch sensor 101, such astransmittance, refraction, or reflection.

The electrodes of a touch sensor 101 may be configured in any pattern(e.g., a grid pattern or a diamond pattern). Each configuration mayinclude a first set of electrodes and a second set of electrodes. Thefirst set of electrodes and the second set of electrodes overlap to forma plurality of capacitive nodes. In certain embodiments, the first setof electrodes are horizontal and the second set of electrodes arevertical. Although described in particular patterns, the electrodes oftouch sensors according to the present disclosure may be in anyappropriate pattern. In certain embodiments, for example, the first setof electrodes may be any appropriate angle to horizontal and the secondset of electrodes may be any appropriate angle to vertical. Thisdisclosure anticipates any appropriate pattern, configuration, design,or arrangement of electrodes and is not limited to the example patternsdiscussed above.

Although this disclosure describes a number of example electrodes, thepresent disclosure is not limited to these example electrodes and otherelectrodes may be implemented. Additionally, although this disclosuredescribes a number of example embodiments that include particularconfigurations of particular electrodes forming particular nodes, thepresent disclosure is not limited to these example embodiments and otherconfigurations may be implemented. In one embodiment, a number ofelectrodes are disposed on the same or different surfaces of the samesubstrate. Additionally or alternatively, different electrodes may bedisposed on different substrates. Although this disclosure describes anumber of example embodiments that include particular electrodesarranged in specific, example patterns, the present disclosure is notlimited to these example patterns and other electrode patterns may beimplemented.

A mechanical stack contains the substrate (or multiple substrates) andthe conductive material forming the electrodes of touch sensor 101. Forexample, the mechanical stack may include a first layer of opticallyclear adhesive (OCA) beneath a cover panel. The cover panel may be clearand made of a resilient material for repeated touching, such as forexample glass, polycarbonate, or poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). Thisdisclosure contemplates the cover panel being made of any material. Thefirst layer of OCA may be disposed between the cover panel and thesubstrate with the conductive material forming the electrodes. Themechanical stack may also include a second layer of OCA and a dielectriclayer (which may be made of PET or another material, similar to thesubstrate with the conductive material forming the electrodes). As analternative, a thin coating of a dielectric material may be appliedinstead of the second layer of OCA and the dielectric layer. The secondlayer of OCA may be disposed between the substrate with the conductivematerial making up the electrodes and the dielectric layer, and thedielectric layer may be disposed between the second layer of OCA and anair gap to a display of a device including touch sensor 101 and touchsensor controller 102. For example, the cover panel may have a thicknessof approximately 1 millimeter (mm); the first layer of OCA may have athickness of approximately 0.05 mm; the substrate with the conductivematerial forming the electrodes may have a thickness of approximately0.05 mm; the second layer of OCA may have a thickness of approximately0.05 mm; and the dielectric layer may have a thickness of approximately0.05 mm.

Although this disclosure describes a particular mechanical stack with aparticular number of particular layers made of particular materials andhaving particular thicknesses, this disclosure contemplates othermechanical stacks with any number of layers made of any materials andhaving any thicknesses. For example, in one embodiment, a layer ofadhesive or dielectric may replace the dielectric layer, second layer ofOCA, and air gap described above, with there being no air gap in thedisplay.

One or more portions of the substrate of touch sensor 101 may be made ofpolyethylene terephthalate (PET) or another material. This disclosurecontemplates any substrate with portions made of any material(s). In oneembodiment, one or more electrodes in touch sensor 101 are made of ITOin whole or in part. Additionally or alternatively, one or moreelectrodes in touch sensor 101 are made of fine lines of metal or otherconductive material. For example, one or more portions of the conductivematerial may be copper or copper-based and have a thickness ofapproximately 5 microns (μm) or less and a width of approximately 10 μmor less. As another example, one or more portions of the conductivematerial may be silver or silver-based and similarly have a thickness ofapproximately 5 μm or less and a width of approximately 10 μm or less.This disclosure contemplates any electrodes made of any materials.

Touch sensor controller 102 is connected to touch sensor 101 byconnection 108 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Inan embodiment, touch sensor controller 102 is electrically coupled totouch sensor 101 through connection pads 106. In some embodiments, touchsensor controller 102 includes one or more memory units and one or moreprocessors. In certain of those embodiments, the one or more memoryunits and the one or more processors are electrically interconnected sothat they interdependently operate. The one or more memory units and theone or more processors are electrically coupled to touch sensor 101,allowing touch sensor 102 to send and receive electrical signals to andfrom touch sensor 101.

In one embodiment, touch sensor 101 implements a capacitive form oftouch sensing. In a mutual-capacitance implementation, touch sensor 101may include an array of drive and sense electrodes forming an array ofcapacitive nodes. Touch sensor 101 may have drive electrodes disposed ina pattern on one side of one substrate and sense electrodes disposed ina pattern on one side of another substrate. In such configurations, anintersection of a drive electrode and a sense electrode forms acapacitive node. Such an intersection may be a position where the driveelectrode and the sense electrode “cross” or come nearest each other intheir respective planes. The drive and sense electrodes forming thecapacitive node are positioned near each other but do not makeelectrical contact with each other. Instead, in response to a signalbeing applied to the drive electrodes for example, the drive and senseelectrodes capacitively couple to each other across a space betweenthem.

A charging signal, which is a pulsed or alternating voltage, applied tothe drive electrode (by touch sensor controller 102) induces a charge onthe sense electrode, and the amount of charge induced is susceptible toexternal influence (such as a touch or the proximity of an object). Whenan object touches or comes within proximity of the capacitive node, achange in capacitance may occur at the capacitive node and touch sensorcontroller 102 measures the change in capacitance. By measuring changesin capacitance throughout touch sensor 101, touch sensor controller 102determines the position of the touch or proximity within touch-sensitiveareas of touch sensor 101.

In a self-capacitance implementation, touch sensor 101 may include anarray of electrodes of a single type that may each form a capacitivenode. When an object touches or comes within proximity of the capacitivenode, a change in self-capacitance may occur at the capacitive node andtouch sensor controller 102 measures the change in capacitance, forexample, as a change in the amount of charge induced by the chargingsignal to raise the voltage at the capacitive node by a predeterminedamount. As with a mutual-capacitance implementation, by measuringchanges in capacitance throughout the array, touch sensor controller 102determines the position of the touch or proximity within touch-sensitiveareas of touch sensor 101. This disclosure contemplates any form ofcapacitive touch sensing.

Although this disclosure describes particular configurations ofparticular electrodes forming particular nodes, this disclosurecontemplates other configurations of electrodes forming nodes. Moreover,this disclosure contemplates other electrodes disposed on any number ofsubstrates in any patterns.

As described above, a change in capacitance at a capacitive node oftouch sensor 101 may indicate a touch or proximity input at the positionof the capacitive node. Touch sensor controller 102 detects andprocesses the change in capacitance to determine the presence andposition of the touch or proximity input. In one embodiment, touchsensor controller 102 then communicates information about the touch orproximity input to one or more other components (such as one or morecentral processing units (CPUs)) of a device, which may include touchsensor 101 and touch sensor controller 102, and which may respond to thetouch or proximity input by initiating a function of the device (or anapplication running on the device). Although this disclosure describes aparticular touch sensor controller 102 having particular functionalitywith respect to a particular device and a particular touch sensor 101,this disclosure contemplates other touch sensor controllers having anyfunctionality with respect to any device and any touch sensor.

In one embodiment, touch sensor controller 102 is implemented as one ormore integrated circuits (ICs), such as for example general-purposemicroprocessors, microcontrollers, programmable logic devices or arrays,or application-specific ICs (ASICs). Touch sensor controller 102comprises any combination of analog circuitry, digital logic, anddigital non-volatile memory. In one embodiment, touch sensor controller102 is disposed on a flexible printed circuit (FPC) bonded to thesubstrate of touch sensor 101, as described below. The FPC may be activeor passive. In one embodiment, multiple touch sensor controllers 102 aredisposed on the FPC.

In an example implementation, touch sensor controller 102 includes aprocessor unit, a drive unit, a sense unit, and a storage unit. In suchan implementation, the drive unit supplies drive signals to the driveelectrodes of touch sensor 101, and the sense unit senses charge at thecapacitive nodes of touch sensor 101 and provides measurement signals tothe processor unit representing capacitances at the capacitive nodes.The processor unit controls the supply of drive signals to the driveelectrodes by the drive unit and processes measurement signals from thesense unit to detect and process the presence and position of a touch orproximity input within touch-sensitive areas of touch sensor 101. Theprocessor unit may also track changes in the position of a touch orproximity input within touch-sensitive areas of touch sensor 101. Thestorage unit stores programming for execution by the processor unit,including programming for controlling the drive unit to supply drivesignals to the drive electrodes, programming for processing measurementsignals from the sense unit, and other programming. Although thisdisclosure describes a particular touch sensor controller 102 having aparticular implementation with particular components, this disclosurecontemplates touch sensor controller having other implementations withother components.

Connecting lines 104, formed in one example of conductive materialdisposed on the substrate of touch sensor 101, couple the drive or senseelectrodes of touch sensor 101 to connection pads 106, also disposed onthe substrate of touch sensor 101. As described below, connection pads106 facilitate coupling of connecting lines 104 to touch sensorcontroller 102. Connecting lines 104 may extend into or around (e.g., atthe edges of) touch-sensitive areas of touch sensor 101. In oneembodiment, particular connecting lines 104 provide drive connectionsfor coupling touch sensor controller 102 to drive electrodes of touchsensor 101, through which the drive unit of touch sensor controller 102supplies drive signals to the drive electrodes, and other connectinglines 104 provide sense connections for coupling touch sensor controller102 to sense electrodes of touch sensor 101, through which the senseunit of touch sensor controller 102 senses charge at the capacitivenodes of touch sensor 101.

Connecting lines 104 are made of fine lines of metal or other conductivematerial. For example, the conductive material of connecting lines 104may be copper or copper-based and have a width of approximately 100 μmor less. As another example, the conductive material of connecting lines104 may be silver or silver-based and have a width of approximately 100μm or less. In one embodiment, connecting lines 104 are made of ITO inwhole or in part in addition or as an alternative to the fine lines ofmetal or other conductive material. Although this disclosure describesparticular tracks made of particular materials with particular widths,this disclosure contemplates tracks made of other materials and/or otherwidths. In addition to connecting lines 104, touch sensor 101 mayinclude one or more ground lines terminating at a ground connector(which may be a connection pad 106) at an edge of the substrate of touchsensor 101 (similar to connecting lines 104).

Connection pads 106 may be located along one or more edges of thesubstrate, outside a touch-sensitive area of touch sensor 101. Asdescribed above, touch sensor controller 102 may be on an FPC.Connection pads 106 may be made of the same material as connecting lines104 and may be bonded to the FPC using an anisotropic conductive film(ACF). In one embodiment, connection 108 includes conductive lines onthe FPC coupling touch sensor controller 102 to connection pads 106, inturn coupling touch sensor controller 102 to connecting lines 104 and tothe drive or sense electrodes of touch sensor 101. In anotherembodiment, connection pads 106 are connected to an electro-mechanicalconnector (such as, for example, a zero insertion force wire-to-boardconnector). Connection 108 may or may not include an FPC. Thisdisclosure contemplates any connection 108 between touch sensorcontroller 102 and touch sensor 101.

In certain embodiments, system 100 includes a display stack. The displaystack of system 100 may include one or more layers associated withdisplaying an image to a user. As an example, the display stack mayinclude a layer with elements that apply signals to a pixel layer of thedisplay, a ground layer (also referred to as a common voltage (VCOM)layer), and/or a cover layer. In certain embodiments, the electrodes areplaced underneath (from a user's perspective) pixel rows of the displaystack's pixel layer. This disclosure contemplates the display being anydisplay capable of presenting an image to a user, such as for example aliquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED)display, etc. In certain embodiments, touch sensor 101 is attached tothe display (e.g., an LCD or OLED). In some embodiments, the display ofsystem 100 is an in-cell display module, and touch sensor 101 andcontroller 102 (e.g., touch sensor circuitry and drive circuitry) arebuilt into the display (e.g., LCD or OLED) module.

FIG. 1B illustrates an example mechanical stack 160 for a touch sensor101 in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. In theexample embodiment of FIG. 1B, the mechanical stack 160 includesmultiple layers and is illustrated as positioned with respect to az-axis. The example mechanical stack 160 includes a display 170, asecond conductive layer 168, a substrate 166, a first conductive layer164, and a cover layer 162.

In an embodiment, the second conductive layer 168 and first conductivelayer 164 are drive and sense electrodes, respectively, as discussedabove in connection with FIG. 1A. In an embodiment, the secondconductive layer 168 and first conductive layer 164 are meshes asdescribed in this disclosure. Substrate 166 comprises, in an embodiment,a material which electrically isolates the first and second conductivelayers. In an embodiment, substrate 166 provides mechanical support forother layers. In an embodiment, additional layers of substrate (which,for example, may not be the same material as substrate 166) may be usedin different configurations. For example, a second substrate layer maybe located between second conductive layer 168 and display 170. Thedisplay 170 provides display information to be viewed by a user. As anexample, display 170 may be an LCD, an OLED, or any other suitable typeof display. In an embodiment, display 170 may be an alternating pixeldisplay having subpixels arranged in an alternating pixel displaypattern.

Cover layer 162 may be clear, or substantially clear, and made of aresilient material for repeated touching, such as for example glass,polycarbonate, or poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). In an embodiment, atransparent or semi-transparent adhesive layer is placed between coverlayer 162 and first conductive layer 164, and/or between secondconductive layer 168 and display 170. A user may interact with touchsensor 101 by touching cover layer 162 using a finger or some othertouch object (such as a stylus). A user may also interact with touchsensor 100 by hovering a finger or some other touch object over coverlayer 162 without actually making physical contact with cover layer 162.

In the example embodiment of FIG. 1B, mechanical stack 160 comprises twoconductive layers. In an embodiment, mechanical stack 160 may comprise asingle conductive layer forming. Other embodiments of mechanical stack160 may implement other configurations, relations, and perspectives, aswell as fewer or additional layers. As one example, one or more ofconductive layers 164 and 168 (and/or other layers of mechanical stack160) may be integrated with display 170, such that the one or more ofthe conductive layers 164 and 168 are positioned within the layers thatform display 170. In certain embodiments, the layers integrated withdisplay 170 may provide operations for display 170 (e.g., for displayingan image) and for touch sensing. As another example, mechanical stack160 may include multiple substrates 166, with first conductive layer 164being positioned on a first substrate 166 and second conductive layer168 being positioned on a second substrate 166.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example dot inverse pixel pattern 200 inaccordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. Each square ofdot inverse pixel pattern 200 represents a pixel. The rows of dotinverse pattern 200 correspond to pixel rows of a pixel layer of adisplay module of system 100. For example, row 201 of dot inversepattern 200 corresponds to a first pixel row, row 202 of dot inversepattern 200 corresponds to second pixel row, and so on. In certainembodiments, certain electrodes of touch sensor 101 are positionedhorizontally underneath pixel rows. For example, a first electrode maybe positioned horizontally underneath row 201, a second electrode may bepositioned horizontally underneath adjacent row 202, and so on. Incertain embodiments, a single electrode may cover multiple pixel rows.For example, a first electrode may be positioned horizontally underneathseveral first pixel rows (e.g., 40 first pixel rows), a second electrodemay be positioned horizontally underneath several second pixel rows(e.g., 40 second adjacent rows) adjacent to the first pixel rows, and soon.

In certain embodiments, several electrodes are electrically and/orphysically coupled together to operate as a single electrode that maycover multiple pixel rows. As an example, a first electrode may includeseveral electrodes positioned horizontally underneath several firstpixel rows (e.g., 40 first adjacent rows), a second electrode mayinclude several electrodes positioned horizontally underneath severalsecond pixel rows (e.g., 40 second adjacent rows) adjacent to the firstpixel rows, and so on.

In certain embodiments, noise generated by a display (e.g., an LCD orOLED) is not constant in time. As an image on the display is refreshed,the noise may follow a repeating pattern of noisy and quieter periods. Adisplay comprising dot inverse pattern 200 may generate at least twotypes of noise. In the illustrated embodiment, alternating rows 201,203, 205, and so on of dot inverse pattern 200, as indicated by aforward slash hatch pattern, represent a first type of noise 210 (i.e.,a “+ − +” noise pattern), and alternating rows 202, 204, 206, and so onof dot inverse pattern 200, as indicated by a backslash hatch pattern,represent a second type of noise 212 (i.e., a “− + −” noise pattern).The “+” signal represents a positive amplitude peak and the “−” signalrepresents a negative amplitude peak. In certain embodiments, the degreeof change for the positive amplitude peak measured from a zero referenceequals the degree of change for the negative amplitude peak measuredfrom a zero reference.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example double dot inverse pattern 300 inaccordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. Each square ofdouble dot inverse pixel pattern 300 represents a pixel. The rows ofdouble dot inverse pattern 300 correspond to pixel rows of a pixel layerof a display module of system 100. For example, row 301 of double dotinverse pattern 300 corresponds to a first pixel row, row 302 of doubledot inverse pattern 300 corresponds to second pixel row, and so on. Adisplay (e.g., an LCD or OLED) comprising double dot inverse pattern 300may generate four types of noise. In the illustrated embodiment, rows301, 305, and 309 of double dot inverse pattern 300, as indicated by aforward slash hatch pattern, represent a first type of noise 320 (i.e.,a “+ − +” regular amplitude pattern), rows 302, 306, and 310 of doubledot inverse pattern 300, as indicated by a double backslash hatchpattern, represent a second type of noise (i.e., a “+ − +” low amplitudepattern), rows 303, 307, and 311 of double dot inverse pattern 300, asindicated by a forward slash broken line hatch pattern, represent athird type of noise (i.e., a “− + −” regular amplitude pattern), androws 304, 308, and 312 of double dot inverse pattern 300, as indicatedby a quadruple backslash hatch pattern, represent a fourth type of noise(i.e., a “− +−” low amplitude pattern). In certain embodiments, thedegree of change for the positive (+) regular amplitude peak measuredfrom a zero reference equals the degree of change for the negative (−)regular amplitude peak measured from the zero reference. Similarly, thedegree of change for the positive (+) low amplitude peak measured from azero reference equals the degree of change for the negative (−) lowamplitude peak measured from the zero reference.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example integration sequence in accordance withembodiments of the present disclosure. The integration sequenceillustrated in FIG. 4 may be used by system 100. In certain embodiments,the integration sequence reduces or eliminates flicker on displays thatinclude certain pixel patterns (e.g., dot inverse pattern 200 and/ordouble dot inverse pattern 300) while reducing or eliminating anyreduction in the touch measurement performance. FIG. 4 shows onesynchronization signal 402 and three color signals: red write signal404, green write signal 406, and blue write signal 408.

To update a display of system 100, controller 102 may usesynchronization signals to control the pixels on the display. Tofacilitate locating by the display controller the position correspondingto each pixel data, controller 102 may use a horizontal synchronization(HSYNC) signal to indicate the start of a pixel line. Essentially, theHSYNC signal acts as a clock signal. For example, a start of a new pixelline can be triggered by the rising edges (e.g., the change from a lowlevel state to a high level state) of the timing pulses of the HSYNCsignal. Accordingly, when controller 102 detects the rising edge of oneof the timing pulses of the HSYNC signal, the subsequent pixel datareceived will be interpreted as belonging to the next pixel line.Controller 102 will then update that pixel line. One of ordinary skillin the art will appreciate that in another embodiment, falling edges ofthe HSYNC pulse can be used by controller 102 to initiate a new pixelline.

Synchronization to HSYNC signals may reduce or eliminate display noisein touch measurements. Without this synchronization, charge may beinserted or removed on the pixel capacitor due to the rising and fallingedges of a charging signal (e.g., charging signal 410), which may causea fluctuation in capacitor voltage. This fluctuation may result in achange in luminance intensity and/or color intensity (e.g.,Red/Green/Blue emitted intensity) of the display. By using HSYNC delayas shown in FIG. 4, controller 102 scans during quiet periods whensource data is not updating the pixel area (e.g., red write signal 404,green write signal 406, and blue write signal 408), which may reduce oreliminate display noise. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the range ofoptimum HSYNC delay is between a falling edge of blue write signal 408and a rising edge of HSYNC signal 402, as indicated by notation 412 onFIG. 4.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 4, the rising and falling edges ofcharging signal 410 driven on one or more electrodes of touch sensor aresynchronized to the falling edges of HSYNC signal 402. In someembodiments, the rising and falling edges of charging signal 410 may besynchronized to the rising edges of HSYNC signal 402. In certainembodiments, an HSYNC period (e.g., HSYNC period 1) may be in the orderof 5 to 15 microseconds. As an example, HSYNC period 1 may be 6.5microseconds (i.e., 16.6 milliseconds/2560 rows). Measured responsesignals from HSYNC period 1 and HSYNC period 2 may include measuredvoltages, time periods, or any other characteristic of the receivedsignals.

In FIG. 4, controller 102 induces a positively polarized charge on anelectrode (e.g., an electrode underlying row 201 of FIG. 2 or acombination of electrodes underlying several rows 201, 202, etc. of FIG.2) of touch sensor 101, which results in charging signal 410 of FIG. 4.Controller 102 then performs a positive integration (+) by sensing afirst rising edge of charging signal 410 associated with the electrodeduring HSYNC period 1. Similarly, controller 102 induces a negativelypolarized charge on the electrode of touch sensor 101 and performs anegative integration (−) by sensing a first falling edge of chargingsignal 410 associated with the electrode during HSYNC period 2. Byalternating the polarity of applied charging signal 410 between positiveand negative polarity for HSYNC periods 1 and 2, touch sensor controller102 may reduce or eliminate noise since the amount of charge (i.e.,noise) injected into system 100 equals the amount of charge (i.e.,noise) taken out of system 100. Two HSYNC periods (e.g., HSYNC period 1and HSYNC period 2) may be used per measurement cycle. Each measurementcycle is associated with an ADC sample (e.g., ADC sample 1). Touchsensor controller 102 repeats this application and measurement cycle anumber of times to accumulate a predetermined number of samples (e.g.,ADC samples 1 and 2) from one or more electrodes of touch sensor 101.

In certain embodiments, a touch electrode measurement is performed byaveraging two or more samples (e.g., ADC samples 1 and 2). For example,a touch measurement may be performed by averaging four ADC samples thatinclude four positive and negative integration pairs, which may berepresented by “+−+−+−+−”. In certain display modules (e.g., an in-celldisplay module), electrodes may be placed on top and/or underneath oneor more pixel rows (e.g., rows 201 a-n of FIG. 2) of touch sensor 101.As an example, a display module with 1080 pixel rows may include 27electrodes. The 27 electrodes may be equally spaced such that eachelectrode is 40 rows wide. As another example, each electrode may befour rows wide. In certain embodiments, controller 102 performs anintegration sequence (e.g., the eight integrations associated with the“+−+−+−+−” integration sequence) sequentially on a first electrode(e.g., an electrode underlying rows 201 a-d of FIG. 2). The integrationsmay be synchronized to an HSYNC signal (e.g., HSYNC signal 402 of FIG.4). After the integrations on the first electrode are completed,controller 102 may then perform the same integration sequence on asecond electrode (e.g., a touch electrode underlying rows 201 e-h ofFIG. 2). In certain embodiments, this pattern is repeated untilcontroller 102 performs the integration sequence on the last electrode.

While this standard phase shift, HSYNC delay method may reduce displaymeasurement noise under various display backgrounds, it may also causedisplay flicker on certain pixel layer patterns, such as dot inversepattern 200 of FIG. 2 and double dot inverse pattern 300 of FIG. 3,since no blanking time, or time when the display is not updating pixels,is available. Types of blanking time include a vertical blankinginterval, which may occur between an end of a display frame and abeginning of a next display frame, and a horizontal blanking interval,which may occur between an end of a display row and a beginning of anext display row when no source data is written to the pixels. Bycreating a gap (0) after every positive integration (+) and negativeintegration (−), the phase of cross-talk between the display source dataand the drive signals of controller 102 can be inversed. This sequenceof positive integration (+), negative integration (−), gap (0), positiveintegration (+), negative integration (−), gap (0), and so forth, whichcan be represented by “+−0+−0”, may reduce or eliminate flicker withoutdegrading the touch measurement.

After performing the first positive integration during HSYNC period 1and the first negative integration after HSYNC period 2, controller 102then performs a phase shift during HSYNC period 3 by skipping chargeinducement (and integration) on the electrode of touch sensor 101 toreduce or eliminate display flicker, thereby creating a gap (0) at HSYNCperiod 3. This gap inverses the phase of cross-talk between displaysource data and charging signal 410. A first sample measurement (e.g.,ADC sample 1 of FIG. 4), which includes HSYNC periods 1 and 2, resultsin a positive integration (+) for the first type of noise (e.g., noise210 of FIG. 2) and a negative integration (−) for the second type ofnoise (e.g., noise 212 of FIG. 2). Thus, an additional samplemeasurement may be needed to cancel out or significantly reduce thedisplay noise.

To obtain ADC sample 2, controller 102 induces a second positivelypolarized charge on the electrode of touch sensor 101 and performs asecond positive integration (+) by sensing a second rising edge ofcharging signal 410 associated with the electrode during HSYNC period 4.Similarly, controller 102 induces a negatively polarized charge on theelectrode of touch sensor 101 and performs a second negative integration(−) by sensing a second falling edge of charging signal 410 associatedwith the electrode during HSYNC period 5. Controller 102 then performs aphase shift during HSYNC period 6 by skipping charge inducement (andintegration) on the electrode to reduce or eliminate display flicker. Asecond sample measurement (e.g., ADC sample 2 of FIG. 4), which includesHSYNC periods 4 and 5, results in a negative integration (−) for thefirst type of noise and a positive integration for the second type ofnoise. Combining ADC samples 1 and 2 results in a positive integration(+) and negative integration (−) for the first type of noise and apositive integration (+) and negative integration (−) for the secondtype of noise, thereby cancelling out or significantly reducing flickerand display noise within six HSYNC periods.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate how the “+−0+−0” sequence reduces or eliminatesdisplay noise on a dot inverse pixel pattern and a double dot inversepixel pattern, respectively, while at the same time reducing displayflicker. FIG. 5 illustrates an example integration sequence mapped ontoa dot inverse pattern (e.g., dot inverse pattern 200 of FIG. 2) inaccordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. The 12 columns ofFIG. 5 represent 12 consecutive HSYNC periods (HSYNC period 1, HSYNCperiod 2, HSYNC period 3, and so on). Each HSYNC period is associatedwith an electrode underlying one or more pixel rows (e.g., one or morepixel rows 201 of FIG. 2) of touch sensor 101. The pixel rows areassociated with two types of noise (e.g., noise 210 and noise 212 ofFIG. 2). In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 5, HSYNC periods 1, 3, 5,7, 9, and 11 are associated with a first type of noise (e.g., first typeof noise 210 of FIG. 2), and HSYNC periods 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 areassociated with a second type of noise (e.g., second type of noise 212of FIG. 2). HSYNC periods 1 through 12 follow the “+−0+−0” integrationsequence such that HSYNC periods 1, 4, 7, and 10 represent positiveintegrations (+), HSYNC periods 2, 5, 8, and 11 represent negativeintegrations (−), and HSYNC periods 3, 6, 9, and 12 represent skippedintegrations (0). This “+−0+−0” integration sequence may cancel out orsignificantly reduce the two types of display noise, as described below.

HSYNC periods 1, 3, and 5, which are associated with the first type ofnoise, represent a positive integration (+), a skipped integration (0),and a negative integration (−), respectively, thereby cancelling out orsignificantly reducing the first type of noise (i.e., sum +/0/−=0).HSYNC periods 2, 4, and 6, which are associated with the second type ofnoise, represent a negative integration (−), a positive integration (+),and a skipped integration (0), thereby cancelling out or significantlyreducing the second type of noise (i.e., sum −/+/0=0). Thus, the“+−0+−0” integration sequence may be used to cancel out or significantlyreduce noise in displays with a dot inverse pattern within six HSYNCperiods and two associated ADC samples (ADC sample 1 associated withHSYNC periods 1 and 2 and ADC sample 2 associated with HSYNC periods 4and 5).

In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 5, the process described above inregard to HSYNC periods 1 through 6 is repeated for HSYNC periods 7through 12. As shown, HSYNC periods 7, 9, and 11, which are associatedwith the first type of noise, represent a positive integration (+), askipped integration (0), and a negative integration (−), respectively,thereby cancelling out or significantly reducing the first type of noise(i.e., sum +/0/−=0). HSYNC periods 8, 10, and 12, which are associatedwith the second type of noise, represent a negative integration (−), apositive integration (+), and a skipped integration (0), therebycancelling out or significantly reducing the second type of noise (i.e.,sum −/+/0=0). Thus, the “+−0+−0” integration sequence may be used tocancel out or significantly reduce noise in displays with a dot inversepattern within ADC samples 3 and 4 (ADC sample 3 associated with HSYNCperiods 7 and 8 and ADC sample 4 associated with HSYNC periods 10 and11).

FIG. 6 illustrates an example integration sequence mapped onto a doubledot inverse pattern (e.g., dot inverse pattern 300 of FIG. 3) inaccordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. Similar to FIG.5, the 12 columns of FIG. 6 represent 12 consecutive HSYNC periods(HSYNC period 1, HSYNC period 2, HSYNC period 3, and so on). However,the HSYNC periods of FIG. 6 are associated with four types of noise. Inthe illustrated embodiment of FIG. 6, HSYNC periods 1, 5, and 9 areassociated with a first type of noise (e.g., first type of noise 320 ofFIG. 3), HSYNC periods 2, 6, and 10 are associated with a second type ofnoise (e.g., second type of noise 322 of FIG. 3), HSYNC periods 3, 7,and 11 are associated with a third type of noise (e.g., third type ofnoise 324 of FIG. 3), and HSYNC periods 4, 8, and 12 are associated witha fourth type of noise (e.g., fourth type of noise 326 of FIG. 3). HSYNCperiods 1, 4, 7, and 10 represent positive integrations (+), HSYNCperiods 2, 5, 8, and 11 represent negative integrations (−), and HSYNCperiods 3, 6, 9, and 12 represent skipped integrations (−). This“+−0+−0+−0+−0” integration sequence may cancel out or significantlyreduce the four types of display noise, as described below.

As shown in FIG. 6, HSYNC periods 1, 5, and 9, which are associated withthe first type of noise, represent a positive integration (+), anegative integration (−), and a skipped integration (0), respectively,thereby cancelling out the first type of noise (i.e., sum +/−/0=0).HSYNC periods 2, 6, and 10, which are associated with the second type ofnoise, represent a negative integration (−), a skipped integration (0),and a positive integration (+), thereby cancelling out the second typeof noise (i.e., sum −/0/+=0). HSYNC periods 3, 7, and 11, which areassociated with the third type of noise, represent a skipped integration(0), a positive integration (+), and a negative integration (−), therebycancelling out the third type of noise (i.e., sum 0/+/−=0). And HSYNCperiods 4, 8, and 12, which are associated with the fourth type ofnoise, represent a positive integration (+), a negative integration (−),and a skipped integration (0), thereby cancelling out the fourth type ofnoise (i.e., sum +/−/0=0). Thus, the “+−0+−0+−0+−0” integration sequencemay be used to cancel out noise in displays with a double dot inversepattern within 12 HSYNC periods and four ADC samples (ADC sample 1associated with HSYNC periods 1 and 2, ADC sample 2 associated withHSYNC periods 4 and 5, ADC sample 3 associated with HSYNC periods 7 and8, and ADC sample 4 associated with HSYNC periods 10 and 11).

FIG. 7 illustrates an example method 700 of performing an integrationsequence in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.Performing integrations in accordance with method 700 may reduce oreliminate flicker and noise associated with a dot inverse pattern of apixel layer of a touch sensor device. Method 700 may be performed bylogic (e.g., hardware or software) of a touch sensor controller (e.g.,controller 102 of FIG. 1A). For example, method 700 may be performed byexecuting (with one or more processors of the touch sensor controller)instructions stored in a computer-readable medium of the touch sensorcontroller.

Method 700 represents a “+−0+−0” integration sequence. The method startsat step 705. At step 710, a first positive integration (+) is performedby sensing a first rising edge of a charging signal associated with anelectrode of a touch sensor of a device during a first synchronizationperiod (e.g., HSYNC period 1 of FIG. 4). Method 700 then moves to step720, where a first negative integration (−) is performed by sensing afirst falling edge of the charging signal associated with the electrodeof the touch sensor during a second synchronization period (e.g., HSYNCperiod 2 of FIG. 4). The first positive integration (+) and the firstnegative integration (−) are associated with a first sample measurement(e.g., ADC sample 1 of FIG. 4). At step 730, a first phase shift isperformed by skipping integration (0) at the electrode of the touchsensor during a third synchronization period (e.g., HSYNC period 3 ofFIG. 4). In certain embodiments, the electrode comprises severalelectrodes (e.g., 40 electrodes). For example, 40 electrodes underlying40 adjacent pixel rows may be electrically and/or physically coupled toform the electrode.

At step 740 of method 700, a second positive integration (+) isperformed by sensing a second rising edge of the charging signalassociated with the electrode of the touch sensor during a fourthsynchronization period (e.g., HSYNC period 4 of FIG. 4). Method 700 thenmoves to step 750, where a second negative integration (−) is performedby sensing a second falling edge of the charging signal associated withthe electrode of the touch sensor during a fifth synchronization period(e.g., HSYNC period 5 of FIG. 4). The second positive integration (+)and the second negative integration (−) are associated with a secondsample measurement (e.g., ADC sample 2 of FIG. 4). At step 760, a secondphase shift is performed by skipping integration (0) at the electrode ofthe touch sensor during a sixth synchronization period (e.g., HSYNCperiod 6 of FIG. 4).

At step 770, method 700 determines whether the first, third, and fifthsynchronization periods of method 700 are associated with a first typeof noise (e.g., noise 210 produced by dot inverse pattern 200 of FIG. 2)and the second, fourth, and sixth synchronization periods of method 700are associated with a second type of noise (e.g., noise 212 produced bydot inverse pattern 200 of FIG. 2). If the determination at step 770 isaffirmative, then method 700 moves to step 780, where the first andsecond sample measurements (e.g., ADC sample 1 and ADC sample 2) aresummed to cancel out the first type of noise and the second type ofnoise within the six synchronization periods and a determination is madeas to whether a touch has occurred within a touch sensitive area oftouch sensor 101. If the determination at step 770 is negative, method700 moves to step 785, where method 700 ends.

Method 700 may include more or less steps than those illustrated in FIG.7. For example, step 770 of method 700 may be eliminated if, forinstance, the nature of the noise has already been established. Undersuch circumstances, step 760 of method 700 may proceed directly to step780. As another example, while method 700 illustrates “+−0+−0”integration sequence as it relates to two types of noise (e.g., twotypes of noise produced by a dot inverse pixel pattern), one of ordinaryskill in the art will appreciate that in another embodiment, method 700can be modified to illustrate “+−0+−0+−0+−0” integration sequence as itrelates to four types of noise (e.g., noise 320, 322, 324, and 326produced by a double dot inverse pixel pattern 300 of FIG. 3).

In certain embodiments, method 700 performs an integration sequence(e.g., the “+−0+−0” integration sequence or the “−−0+−0+−0+−0”integration sequence) on two or more electrodes. As an example, method700 may perform the “+−0+−0” integration sequence on a first electrode.After the four integrations and two phase shifts of the “+−0+−0”integration sequence are completed on the first electrode, method 700may then perform the “+−0+−0” integration sequence on a secondelectrode. Similarly, after the four integrations and two phase shiftsof the “+−0+−0” integration sequence are completed on the secondelectrode, method 700 may perform the “+−0+−0” integration sequence on athird electrode, and so on until method 700 performs the “+−0+−0”integration sequence on all electrodes of the touch sensor.

Although this disclosure describes and illustrates particular steps ofthe method of FIG. 7 as occurring in a particular order, this disclosurecontemplates any steps of the method of FIG. 7 occurring in any order.An embodiment can repeat or omit one or more steps of the method of FIG.7. Moreover, although this disclosure describes and illustrates anexample method of performing an integration sequence including theparticular steps of the method of FIG. 7, this disclosure contemplatesany method of performing an integration sequence including any steps,which can include all, some, or none of the steps of the method of FIG.7. Moreover, although this disclosure describes and illustratesparticular components carrying out particular steps of the method ofFIG. 7, this disclosure contemplates any combination of any componentscarrying out any steps of the method of FIG. 7.

Herein, a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium or media mayinclude one or more semiconductor-based or other ICs (such, as forexample, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) or ASICs), hard diskdrives (HDDs), hybrid hard drives (HHDs), optical discs, optical discdrives (ODDs), magneto-optical discs, magneto-optical drives, floppydiskettes, floppy disk drives (FDDs), magnetic tapes, solid-state drives(SSDs), RAM-drives, SECURE DIGITAL cards or drives, any other suitablecomputer-readable non-transitory storage media, or any suitablecombination of two or more of these. A computer-readable non-transitorystorage medium may be volatile, non-volatile, or a combination ofvolatile and non-volatile.

Herein, “or” is inclusive and not exclusive, unless expressly indicatedotherwise or indicated otherwise by context. Therefore, herein, “A or B”means “A, B, or both,” unless expressly indicated otherwise or indicatedotherwise by context. Moreover, “and” is both joint and several, unlessexpressly indicated otherwise or indicated otherwise by context.Therefore, herein, “A and B” means “A and B, jointly or severally,”unless expressly indicated otherwise or indicated otherwise by context.

This disclosure encompasses a myriad of changes, substitutions,variations, alterations, and modifications to the example embodimentsherein that a person having ordinary skill in the art would comprehend.Similarly, the appended claims encompass all changes, substitutions,variations, alterations, and modifications to the example embodimentsherein that a person having ordinary skill in the art would comprehend.Moreover, reference in the appended claims to an apparatus or system ora component of an apparatus or system being adapted to, arranged to,capable of, configured to, enabled to, operable to, or operative toperform a particular function encompasses that apparatus, system,component, whether or not it or that particular function is activated,turned on, or unlocked, as long as that apparatus, system, or componentis so adapted, arranged, capable, configured, enabled, operable, oroperative.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device, comprising: a touch sensor comprising aplurality of electrodes; and a controller coupled to the touch sensor,the controller comprising logic configured, when executed, to cause thecontroller to: perform a first positive integration by sensing a firstrising edge of a charging signal associated with an electrode of theplurality of electrodes during a first synchronization period; perform afirst negative integration by sensing a first falling edge of thecharging signal associated with the electrode of the plurality ofelectrodes during a second synchronization period, wherein the firstpositive integration and the first negative integration are associatedwith a first sample measurement; perform a first phase shift by skippingintegration at the electrode of the plurality of electrodes during athird synchronization period; perform a second positive integration bysensing a second rising edge of the charging signal associated with theelectrode of the plurality of electrodes during a fourth synchronizationperiod; perform a second negative integration by sensing a secondfalling edge of the charging signal associated with the electrode of theplurality of electrodes during a fifth synchronization period, whereinthe second positive integration and the second negative integration areassociated with a second sample measurement; perform a second phaseshift by skipping integration at the electrode of the plurality ofelectrodes during a sixth synchronization period; perform a thirdpositive integration by sensing a third rising edge of the chargingsignal associated with the electrode of the plurality of electrodesduring a seventh synchronization period; perform a third negativeintegration by sensing a third falling edge of the charging signalassociated with the electrode of the plurality of electrodes during aneighth synchronization period, wherein the third positive integrationand the third negative integration are associated with a third samplemeasurement; perform a third phase shift by skipping integration at theelectrode of the plurality of electrodes during a ninth synchronizationperiod; perform a fourth positive integration by sensing a fourth risingedge of the charging signal associated with the electrode of theplurality of electrodes during a tenth synchronization period; perform afourth negative integration by sensing a fourth falling edge of acharging signal associated with the electrode of the plurality ofelectrodes during an eleventh synchronization period, wherein the fourthpositive integration and the fourth negative integration are associatedwith a fourth sample measurement; and perform a fourth phase shift byskipping integration during a twelfth synchronization period.
 2. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein: the first, third, and fifth synchronizationperiods are associated with a first type of noise; the second, fourth,and sixth synchronization periods are associated with a second type ofnoise; and the summation of the first and second sample measurementscancel out the first type of noise and the second type of noise withinthe six synchronization periods.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein: thefirst, fifth, and ninth synchronization periods represent a first typeof noise; the second, sixth, and tenth synchronization periods representa second type of noise; the third, seventh, and eleventh synchronizationperiods represent a third type of noise; the fourth, eighth, and twelfthsynchronization periods represent a fourth type of noise; and asummation of the first, second, third, and fourth sample measurementscancel out the first, second, third, and fourth types of noise withinthe twelve synchronization periods.
 4. The device of claim 1, whereinthe first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth synchronizationperiods occur consecutively.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein thedevice comprises a hybrid in-cell liquid crystal display (“LCD”), theLCD comprising one from a set of: a checkerboard dot inverse patternthat produces a first and second type of noise; and a checkerboarddouble dot inverse pattern that produces a first, second, third, andfourth type of noise.
 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the electrode ofthe plurality of electrodes comprises two or more electrically coupledelectrodes that are positioned horizontally underneath adjacent pixelrows of a display of the device.
 7. One or more computer-readablenon-transitory storage media embodying logic that is operable whenexecuted to: perform a first positive integration by sensing a firstrising edge of a charging signal associated with an electrode of aplurality of electrodes of a touch sensor during a first synchronizationperiod; perform a first negative integration by sensing a first fallingedge of the charging signal associated with the electrode of theplurality of electrodes during a second synchronization period, whereinthe first positive integration and the first negative integration areassociated with a first sample measurement; perform a first phase shiftby skipping integration at the electrode of the plurality of electrodesduring a third synchronization period; perform a second positiveintegration by sensing a second rising edge of the charging signalassociated with the electrode of the plurality of electrodes during afourth synchronization period; perform a second negative integration bysensing a second falling edge of the charging signal associated with theelectrode of the plurality of electrodes during a fifth synchronizationperiod, wherein the second positive integration and the second negativeintegration are associated with a second sample measurement; perform asecond phase shift by skipping integration at the electrode of theplurality of electrodes during a sixth synchronization period; perform athird positive integration by sensing a third rising edge of thecharging signal associated with the electrode of the plurality ofelectrodes during a seventh synchronization period; perform a thirdnegative integration by sensing a third falling edge of the chargingsignal associated with the electrode of the plurality of electrodesduring an eighth synchronization period, wherein the third positiveintegration and the third negative integration are associated with athird sample measurement; perform a third phase shift by skippingintegration at the electrode of the plurality of electrodes during aninth synchronization period; perform a fourth positive integration bysensing a fourth rising edge of the charging signal associated with theelectrode of the plurality of electrodes during a tenth synchronizationperiod; perform a fourth negative integration by sensing a fourthfalling edge of a charging signal associated with the electrode of theplurality of electrodes during an eleventh synchronization period,wherein the fourth positive integration and the fourth negativeintegration are associated with a fourth sample measurement; and performa fourth phase shift by skipping integration during a twelfthsynchronization period.
 8. The media of claim 7, wherein: the first,third, and fifth synchronization periods are associated with a firsttype of noise; the second, fourth, and sixth synchronization periods areassociated with a second type of noise; and the summation of the firstand second sample measurements cancel out the first type of noise andthe second type of noise within the six synchronization periods.
 9. Themedia of claim 7, wherein: the first, fifth, and ninth synchronizationperiods represent a first type of noise; the second, sixth, and tenthsynchronization periods represent a second type of noise; the third,seventh, and eleventh synchronization periods represent a third type ofnoise; the fourth, eighth, and twelfth synchronization periods representa fourth type of noise; and a summation of the first, second, third, andfourth sample measurements cancel out the first, second, third, andfourth types of noise within the twelve synchronization periods.
 10. Themedia of claim 7, wherein the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, andsixth synchronization periods occur consecutively.
 11. The media ofclaim 7, wherein the touch sensor is associated with a hybrid in-cellliquid crystal display (“LCD”), the LCD comprising one from a set of: acheckerboard dot inverse pattern that produces a first and second typeof noise; and a checkerboard double dot inverse pattern that produces afirst, second, third, and fourth type of noise.
 12. The media of claim7, wherein the electrode of the plurality of electrodes comprises two ormore electrically coupled electrodes that are positioned horizontallyunderneath adjacent pixel rows of a display of the device.
 13. A methodto determine whether a touch has occurred, comprising: performing afirst positive integration by sensing a first rising edge of a chargingsignal associated with an electrode of a plurality of electrodes of atouch sensor during a first synchronization period; performing a firstnegative integration by sensing a first falling edge of the chargingsignal associated with the electrode of the plurality of electrodesduring a second synchronization period, wherein the first positiveintegration and the first negative integration are associated with afirst sample measurement; performing a first phase shift by skippingintegration at the electrode of the plurality of electrodes during athird synchronization period; performing a second positive integrationby sensing a second rising edge of the charging signal associated withthe electrode of the plurality of electrodes during a fourthsynchronization period; performing a second negative integration bysensing a second falling edge of the charging signal associated with theelectrode of the plurality of electrodes during a fifth synchronizationperiod, wherein the second positive integration and the second negativeintegration are associated with a second sample measurement; performinga second phase shift by skipping integration at the electrode of theplurality of electrodes during a sixth synchronization period;performing a third positive integration by sensing a third rising edgeof the charging signal associated with the electrode of the plurality ofelectrodes during a seventh synchronization period; performing a thirdnegative integration by sensing a third falling edge of the chargingsignal associated with the electrode of the plurality of electrodesduring an eighth synchronization period, wherein the third positiveintegration and the third negative integration are associated with athird sample measurement; performing a third phase shift by skippingintegration at the electrode of the plurality of electrodes during aninth synchronization period; performing a fourth positive integrationby sensing a fourth rising edge of the charging signal associated withthe electrode of the plurality of electrodes during a tenthsynchronization period; performing a fourth negative integration bysensing a fourth falling edge of a charging signal associated with theelectrode of the plurality of electrodes during an eleventhsynchronization period, wherein the fourth positive integration and thefourth negative integration are associated with a fourth samplemeasurement; and performing a fourth phase shift by skipping integrationduring a twelfth synchronization period.
 14. The method of claim 13,wherein: the first, third, and fifth synchronization periods areassociated with a first type of noise; the second, fourth, and sixthsynchronization periods are associated with a second type of noise; andthe summation of the first and second sample measurements cancel out thefirst type of noise and the second type of noise within the sixsynchronization periods.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein: the first,fifth, and ninth synchronization periods represent a first type ofnoise; the second, sixth, and tenth synchronization periods represent asecond type of noise; the third, seventh, and eleventh synchronizationperiods represent a third type of noise; the fourth, eighth, and twelfthsynchronization periods represent a fourth type of noise; and asummation of the first, second, third, and fourth sample measurementscancel out the first, second, third, and fourth types of noise withinthe twelve synchronization periods.
 16. The method of claim 13, whereinthe first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth synchronizationperiods occur consecutively.
 17. The method of claim 13, wherein theelectrode of the plurality of electrodes comprises two or moreelectrically coupled electrodes that are positioned horizontallyunderneath adjacent pixel rows of a display of the device.